Actually, two people attended one of three meetings
held by the West Manatee Fire District at different
fire stations in the district last week to explain
the district’s need to increase its impact fee
schedule on new construction. The question will be
put to voters on the Nov. 7 ballot.

"I hope that’s a good thing," observed
Fire Chief Andy Price, "because maybe it means
that they understand that the impact fee has no affect
on their fire assessments. It only affects new construction.

"It puts the burden on those who move into our
communities and build new homes and businesses. We
can use the impact fees to purchase facilities and
equipment and we don’t have to raise taxes to
pay for them. It takes the burden off the taxpayers."

Price said if a property owner demolishes an existing
home and rebuilds, he does not have to pay an impact
fee if he paid it on the original home, unless he
doubles the home’s size.

Impact fees can only be used to build facilities
and purchase new equipment. They cannot be used to
pay salaries.

"Most districts use the fees to build buildings
and buy fire trucks," Deputy Chief Brett Pollock
explained. "We can use it to upgrade our technology
and add facilities to our training center.

"In the past, we’ve been lucky in getting
grants to pay for these things, but the amount available
to the fire service had been significantly reduced
in the past five years. This can make up the difference."

Price pointed out that the district has not increased
the amount of its impact fees since they were implemented
in 1985.

The district’s current impact fee is $100 for
residential construction and $200 plus $.05 per square
foot for more than 5,000 square feet for commercial
construction.

Impact fees in other county districts range from
$300 to $500 for residential construction and $400
to $980 plus up to $.25 per square foot for more than
5,000 square feet for commercial construction.

The recommendation is to increase to $500 for residential
and $980 plus $.25 per square foot for more than 5,000
square feet for commercial.

For example, a 140-lot subdivision, approved in the
northwest part of the district brought the district
$14,000 in impact fees versus $70,000 if the fees
were increased.

A recently approved 34,560 square-foot commercial
storage facility brought the district $1,675 in impact
fees versus $8,355 if the fees were increased.

The referendum question will read: Shall the West Manatee
Fire and Rescue District be allowed to increase impact
fees on new construction to pay for new equipment and
facilities as necessary to accommodate new growth?

BRADENTON BEACH – The future of a proposed
beachfront condominium project at 1402-1404 Gulf Drive
is in the hands of the state, the latest chapter in
a saga of how difficult it is to build on the beach.

The Bradenton Beach City Commission voted unanimously
to send a large-scale amendment proposal to the Florida
Department of Community Affairs for its assessment.
While the city commission has not passed judgement
on the project, the planning and zoning board voted
to recommend that it not be allowed after Building
Official Ed McAdam argued that the project would interrupt
a dune formation.

The developers, Island Inc. and Beach Development,
Inc., were present with an attorney, a land planner
and an ecologist. Although the commission was not
there to decide for or against the project, City Attorney
Ralf Brookes told them they should allow the developers
to testify.

Attorney Stephen Thompson gave a brief history and
his clients’ argument. The project was initially
approved by the city in the 1990s when the building
official at the time said he thought the land’s
designation as preservation was wrong. However, the
city commission disagreed and did not approve the
project, which led to a lawsuit. A panel of judges
agreed with the developers, saying that the city’s
argument that the land should have a preservation
classification was flawed because soil studies showed
it was not consistent with other land of the same
designation. The developers applied to have the zoning
changed, but the state ruled the change should be
treated as a large-scale amendment.

When the planning and zoning board heard the case,
McAdam argued that the project would disrupt a dune
formation and leave the upland areas more vulnerable
to flooding and storm damage. During last week’s
hearing, planner Jim Farr argued that the land is
the same as developed land on either side of the project.

"The subject property is being singled out to
be preservation," he said.

Jeff Churchill, who said he was an ecologist specializing
in wetlands and wildlife issues, said that the property
was not unique and should be allowed to be developed.

"It will not lead to the wholesale destruction
of the dune community," he argued.

Four residents, two of the homeowners at Bermuda Bay
across Gulf Drive from the project site, asked the city
not to allow the development. The two Bermuda Bay owners
said that the developers, who also developed Bermuda
Bay, promised them when they bought their properties
that the beachfront would not be developed. They expressed
concern that the proposed project would spoil their
Gulf view and reduce the value of their property.

HOLMES BEACH – Between her daughter in art
school and her parents’ creative talents, Joyce
Karp says she’s "generationally sandwiched"
by art.

The jewelry artist is the new director of the Anna
Maria Island Art League, a position vacated by Ginger
White-Hergenroeder, who married this month and plans
to relocate out of state.

"I feel confident she’ll keep the Art
League afloat," said White-Hergenroeder, who
plans to continue as a volunteer during visits to
the Island. "She is an Island resident and is
involved with the Island community, and we wanted
to continue our relationship with the community."

"Art’s been a part of my life forever,"
said Karp, ever since her parents taught her to paint
as a toddler. She took up glass beadmaking, then expanded
to working with silver and semi-precious stones to
create jewelry for her business, "Oops-a-daisy!"

Her long-term plans for the Art League include collaborating
with other local galleries and unaffiliated artists
on events. She is a member of Island Gallery West
and ArtCenter Manatee in Bradenton.

"If we can do half of what they’ve done
at ArtCenter, I’d be so tickled," she said.

Other plans include inviting more artists to join
the Art League, and recruiting more volunteers.

Short-term, she is planning an October exhibit and
the upcoming Winterfest, one of two major annual events
sponsored by the organization.

Originally from Bolivia and raised in Michigan, Karp
has lived on Anna Maria Island for 15 years.

Her professional background is in nutrition and wellness
education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in
dietetics from Michigan State University and a master’s
in nutrition education from the University of Cincinnati.

Her husband, Gary Hickerson, is Director of Managed
Care at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Her son, Nathan
Hickerson, attends Manatee High School. Daughter Jessica
Hickerson is a student at Corcoran College of Art
and Design in Washington D.C.

"Watching her fulfill her passion for art
has reignited mine," Karp said. The Art League
"seems like just the place where I belong."

BRADENTON BEACH
–Circuit Court Judge Peter Dubensky has sent
the city of Bradenton Beach a show cause order over
a code enforcement board decision on a beachfront
project planned by GSR Inc., LLC.

The city found the embattled development in violation
when it failed to take down big sand piles that
it built around beachfront property at 2508, 2510,
2512 and 2516 Gulf Drive. The city contends that
these piles would be a hazard to surrounding property
in the event of a storm and the code enforcement
department cited the project. The city ordered GSR
to take down the piles, and when the developers
did not comply with a deadline set by the city,
the code enforcement ruled it was in violation and
fined the developers $250 per day.

Following the decision, GSR filed a writ of certiorari
to review the board’s order of June 5 and
quash it.

Since then, GSR has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
protection and the city authorized its safety officer
to have the piles taken down at city expense if
a storm threatens the area. The city would then
bill the developers.

The order to show cause, issued on Aug. 31, gives
the city until Sept. 29 to show why it should not
grant relief to the developers. The order said that
upon review of the writ of certiorari, the court
finds that GSR has demonstrated a preliminary basis
for relief.

During the code enforcement board hearing, GSR
argued that it would soon begin working on the project,
which had been delayed over a state permit and that
the sand piles would then have to be rebuilt. GSR
lost its building permit from the city prior to
the code enforcement action.

GSR is embroiled in a number of lawsuits by investors
regarding several developments on Anna Maria Island.
Some of those have been set aside while the corporation
is in bankruptcy. The court ruled on Sept. 1 that
GSR could sell the Villa Rosa development in Anna
Maria to Gaspar Properties, Inc., of Tampa, for $11.5
million, which would net $2 million with which the
developers could resume work on other projects.

BRADENTON BEACH – The city pier team has been
meeting regularly and is ready to send out a bid request
for the largest part of the pier reconstruction.

"We plan to advertise for bids before Sept.
18," Building Official Ed McAdam told city commissioners
last Thursday.

McAdam, Public Works Director Tom Woodard, Programs/Projects
Manager Dottie Poindexter and Police Chief Sam Speciale
comprise the pier team, along with City Commissioner
Bill Shearon who acts as a liaison.

"The pier project is ahead of schedule and still
within budget," Shearon reported.

The first step of the project was to tear out the
concrete pilings and the deck that formed the foundation
for the restaurant and replace them. Wood Dock, of
Cortez, has finished the demolition, installed the
new wood pilings and started working on the substructure
for the decking.

The pier team also requested that the commission
approve a construction incentive program at last Thursday’s
meeting.

"We feel allotting $250 a day for every day
they finish ahead of schedule, is important,"
Shearon said. "The restaurant operator, Rotten
Ralph’s, has expressed an interest to get in
there and start operating as soon as possible and
this would help make that happen. That would get the
rent coming in sooner."

The city has been without any rent income for two
years, since the last operator had to shut down because
of wind damage to the restaurant from Hurricane Charley.
The city cancelled the contract with that operator
shortly after that and began work on completely rebuilding
the restaurant and redesigning the rest of the structure.
Plans include a day dock, a building for a harbor
master when the city gets its mooring field south
of the pier and a dock for a water taxi, which the
county has previously considered, but has been put
on a back burner for now.

The proposed incentive plan had some opposition,
however.

"Will the workmanship be there or will it be
rushed?" he asked. "I don’t think
it’s worth $250 a day when we’re already
ahead of schedule."

BRADENTON BEACH — It was not a carnival atmosphere,
even though it was held under the "big top."

The Bradenton Beach City Commission held its first
of two required public hearings on Tuesday, Sept.
5, which was the date of the primary election. Because
city hall was being used as a polling place, Mayor
John Chappie set up the hearing in the parking lot
under a large tent.

Barbara Rodocker, owner of Silver Surf Resort, BridgeWalk,
a Landmark ResorT and the Sun House restaurant on
Bridge Street was the only person to attend other
than elected officials, staff and news media.

The $3.831 million budget represents an increase
from the $3.155 million budgeted for 2005 –
2006 budget. The millage, or property tax rate, went
down slightly, from 2.4902 to 2.4878, while the city’s
taxable value went from $547.4 million to $646.278
million.

The amount of ad valorem property taxes the city
will collect went from $1.33 million to $1.56 million
during the year.

The property tax rate would drop from $249.02 for
each $100,000 of taxable value to $248.78.

The new budget includes salaries for a full-time
assistant for Programs/Projects Manager Dottie Poindexter
and a temporary full-time person in the code enforcement
area of the building and planning department.

The final public hearing on the budget will be
held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19, inside city hall.

The county may have a solution to the question of
how to increase parking at Kingfish ramp without riling
residents of Westbay Cove.

"Based on the survey, it looks like we have
some pretty significant constraints at the western
end," Manatee County Environmental Manager Bill
O’Shay told members of the Palma Sola Scenic
Highway Committee last week. "We wouldn’t
want to have boat trailers backing out of the right
of way.

"It might be better to relocate that picnic
area and do a little park adjacent to the condos and
use what is currently the picnic area to rework the
parking lot. That’s not the most popular idea
because they are concerned about losing the shade,
but that would keep the parking away from the condos."

He said he would ask the county’s consultant
for input on the suggestion. He also said the board
of county commissioners must approve any plan for
the ramp area, but he would bring the plan to city
commissioners first.

The county has surveyed the ramp area and it is not
in Holmes Beach or the city of Bradenton. The county
has ordered a title search to prove ownership.

Ramp restroom

With regard to the permanent restroom facility for
Kingfish at the east end of the ramp area, O’Shay
said Holmes Beach city commissioners vetoed the plan,
favoring the existing portable restroom.

However, he pointed out, "In any storm event
the port-a-potties get blown over, and you have sewage
running through the parking lot into the bay. It’s
just not a good thing to have."

John Ormando, assistant public works director for
the city of Bradenton, noted that the committee had
grant money to build the restroom but decided to use
it elsewhere when city commissioners nixed the plan.

If the restroom is approved, O’Shay said he
might be able to get grant funds from the Florida
Boating Improvement Program to build it.

Manatees and plants

O’Shay also reported that manatee protection
signs should be installed in Palma Sola Bay by October
or November. The signage is required in order for
Ormando to get a permit allowing the city to construct
the new boat ramp planned for south side of the Causeway
near the site of the former Bongo’s restaurant.

"I was hoping that the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Service would look at Palma Sola Bay as a stand-alone
water body," O’Shay explained, "but
they wouldn’t. "The remaining waterways
have been divided into four phases and the first phase
includes the bay."

Ormando reported that the Florida Department of Transportation
has verbally approved the Causeway’s landscape
plan. He said he hopes to go out to bid for the project
by the end of the year.

Landscape architect Beverly Burdette told the committee
last month that exotics along the Causeway are slated
for removal, but groups of Australian pines, such
as those at the pavilion, would be left in place to
provide shade for beachgoers.

Bus shelters

Ralf Hesseler, of the county’s transportation
department, said the county plans to install two bus
shelters, one on each side of the Causeway by the
current and planned restrooms. However, he said that
stops could be put anywhere that riders might use
them.

Committee members are deciding on a design for the
shelters. They said they like the Bradenton Beach
design without the decorative elements and in natural
wood and they also like the Holmes Beach design.

He said style doesn’t matter as long as it
meets the codes and complies with the Americans With
Disabilities Act. He said the county would allow $9,000
per shelter and if the price exceeds that, the committee
would be liable for the difference.

Committee members said they hope to use a portion
of their grant funds to landscape the shelters. Ormando
said the city of Bradenton would maintain the landscaping.

Walbridge Aldinger Construction Company began demolition
of the Anna Maria Island Community Center with interior
work and razing the dugouts and part of the stadium
last week. The main building is slated to be demolished
today.

In July, the board of directors approved spending
up to $4.1 on the new building and borrowing up to
$2 million to complete the project. Center officials
have raised $2.5 million toward the project.

The old Center will be replaced with a state-of-the-art
two-story building. Construction is expected to take
nine months to a year.

The administrative offices have been moved into a
trailer at the corner of Sixth Avenue and 43rd Street
in the back parking lot of St. Bernard Church in Holmes
Beach. Adult and senior programs are being held in
the church’s activity room. The SHARE program
has moved to Roser Church Fellowship Hall.

Before and after school programs are being held at
Anna Maria Elementary School. The teen program is
being held in the Holmes Beach Public Works building.
Counseling programs are being held in the conference
room in the Holmes Beach Police Department.